Washing station



' Oct. 2, 1934. c. M. ROHYANS ET AL WASHING STATION Filed April 29,-1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR dambllus M1 301}; I75, imrlas Q15 Own,

WTTORNEYS Oct. 2, 1934- c. M. ROHYANS ET AL 1,975,479

WASHING STATION Filed A'pri1-- 29 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

IfG-JY.

k MM

INVENTOR: cumulus Miran ans, anama @Bro n; I

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,975,479 .WASHING STATION CamillusM. Rohyans,

Indianapolis, Ind., and

Charles G. Brown, Williamsport, Pa.

Application April 29,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to washing stations, and more-particularly toapparatus for cleaning locomotives oi" other large objects, in whichapparatus the cleansing medium comprises a mixture 5 of different kindsof fluids.

Heretofore, for washing locomotives, it has been proposed to employ aspray nozzle to which flexible hose carrying fluids of different natureare connected, the fluids being mixed together within the spray nozzle.With such apparatus each hose is made long enough to reach from anoutlet of the supply mains to either end of the locomotive to becleaned. Due to the length of hose required and the bulky nature of thespray nozzle, such apparatus is difiicult to move about and fatiguing tooperate.

One object of our invention is to provide more simple, yet equallyefficient, apparatus overcoming the above recited difliculties as tohandling by the operator. To this end our invention is characterized bysupply mains which are connected together at spaced intervals along theside of the object to be cleaned to afford a series of discharge pointsat which the fluids are mixed, each of which discharge points is adaptedfor connection'with a single short length hose leading to a spray nozzleof light and simple construction. 7 Another object of the invention isto provide at the discharge outlets of such apparatus means forcombining a cleansing liquid with compressed air in such. manner as tocause the jet issuing from the spray nozzle to have a spasmodic, ratherthan a continuous action, with very short time intervals betweenpressure surges, the action being similar in effect to that of a rapidlyoperated machine gun.

Other more specific objects and advantages characterizing our inventionwill become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter setforth of one embodiment or example of the practice of the invention,having reference to the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings? Fig. Irepresents ,a side elevation of'the complete apparatus comprising thewashing station.

Fig. II represents a plan view of a section of track at the washingstation, showing the arrangement of the supply lines and the position oftheir discharge outlets with relation to the track.

FignIII represents an enlarged detailed view, partly in cross section ofone discharge outlet.

Fig. IV represents an enlarged detailed view ofthe spray nozzle. 7,

Fig. V represents a perspective view of a loco- 1933, Serial No. 568,478(or. 299--s4 motive at the washing station showing the spray nozzle inoperation.

Fig. VI represents an enlarged view, partly in cross section, of theconnection at which oil and hot water are combined, the location ofthis'connection being indicated by the circle VI in Fig. I.

Fig. VII is an enlarged sectional view of the end portion of the spraynozzle; and,

Fig. VIII is an end view of the tip of the spray nozzle.

With reference initially to Fig. I of the drawings, the apparatus thereshown comprises equip-.- ment including heating apparatus housed withina building designated at 1 and additional equipment located adjacent toa railway track 2.

The equipment housed within the building 1 includes in the illustratedexampleof our invention a Water heater 3, an oil tank 4 and a hand pump5. Water enters the heater 3 through a pipe 6 and there surrounds and isheated by a steam radiator 7. From the heater 3 water passes through apipe 8 to a T-connection 9 where it is mixed with oil from the tank 4,and from thence the combined water and oil passes out of the building 1through a pipe 10 constituting the supply for the cleansing liquid andleading to the washing platform adjacent to the track 2. A portion ofthe water from the heater 3 passes through a pipe 11 to the bottom ofthe oil tank 4, thus serving to equalize the pressure in the oil tankwith that in the Water heater.

Oil is admitted to the oil tank 4 by means of the hand pump 5. From theoil tank 4 it passes through a pipe '12 to the T-connection 9 where itmixes with the water from the heater 3. In Fig.'VI the T-connection 9 isshown in detail, and it will be observed that by means of a cylindricalfiller'13 disposed within the pipe 12 and having a restricted opening 14therethrough the proportion of oil .to water is regulated to the desiredamount. Suitable drains 15, 16, 17 are provided for the water heater 3,oil" tank 4 and steam radiator '7, respectively.

From any convenient source of I supply, not shownin the drawings, apressure medium such as compressed air is also lead to the washingplatform, the compressed air supply line being designated at 20. At thewashing platform the supply lines 10, 20 carrying the mixture of oil andwater and carrying compressed air,'respectively, are arranged inparallel relation with each other alongside the track 2. By means ofbranch lines 10a, 20a, crossing over beneath the track 2, the supplylines 10, '20 are extended to each side of the washing platform, asshown clearly in Fig. II. At

spaced intervals along the fluid supply lines 10, 20 discharge outletsare provided to afford means to which the spray nozzles may be quicklyconnected and disconnected, the points at which the discharge outletsare placed being designated by the letters A to F, inclusive.

To support the fluid supply lines 10, 20 as well as to guard themagainst injury, we preferably provide a series of upright posts 21 andrailings 22 at each side of the track 2. While in the illustratedexample of our invention three discharge outlets are provided at eachside of the washing platform, it will be apparent that, according to thesize of the object to be washed, the number of outlets and the distancebetween them may be varied.

One discharge outlet is shown in detail in Fig. III. Within thecompressed air lines 20, at each discharge outlet, there is aT-connection 23 to which is applied a nipple 24 and a cut=out valve 25.In the oil and water supply line 10 there is provided a pipe cross 26 ata point adjacent to each T-connection 23 of the air supply line 20. Atubular extension 27 from each cut-out valve extends upward through theside arms of the pipe cross 26 closing the lower arm and passing throughthe upper arm without closing it. To the pipe cross 26 there is attachedan adjusting nut 28 through which the oil and water passes. To theadjusting nut 28 there is applied a fitting in the form of a pipereducer 29 which affords a restricted opening surrounding the end of thetubular extension 27. To the pipe reducer 29 there is applied a casingin the form of a nipple 30 which serves as the mixing chamber withinwhich the cleansing liquid, oil and water, is mixed with compressed airfrom the air line 20. It will be observed that the discharge connectionfrom the air supply line 20 which comprises the nipple 24, the valve 25and the tubular extension 27, is relatively small in diameter, whereasthe discharge connection from the oil and Water supply line 10, whichcomprises the pipe cross 26, the adjusting nut 28, the pipe reducer 29and the nipple 30, is relatively large in diameter. By having the largedischarge connection from the liquid supply line 10 terminate in areduced end, surrounding the relatively small discharge connection fromthe air supply line 20, the oil and water is entrained in the jet of airissuing from the tubular extension 27, and is caused to be expelled at ahigh velocity.

Moreover, the pipe reducer 29, which has a gradually diminishing crosssectional area toward the upper end, serves as a choke causing thecleansing medium to issue in a spasmodic or interrupted jet. The effectresulting fromthe use of the above described apparatus is thatsuccessive pressure surges rapidly follow one upon another, not unlike amachine gun, and this action produces a very eifective jet for cleaningthe surfaces of a locomotive, especially the regions thereof where dirtor grease is lodged in nooks and corners and is diificult to remove'by acontinuous stream. 7

The particular relation of the tubular extension 27 within the pipereducer 29 necessary to efiect the above described spasmodic jet actionwill vary according to the pressures employed in the supply lines 10, 20and may be determined by trial and error, the adjustment of thisrelation being obtained by turning the adjusting nut 28 in one directionor the other.

Beyond the nipple 30 a cut-out valve 31 is applied andto the top of thisvalve there is afiixed a fitting preferably in the form of a universalcoupling including a socket member 32. All of the elements thus fardescribed comprise permanent and stationary parts of the washingplatform, whereas the spray nozzles to be hereinafter described are of aportable nature.

To the coupling 32, which is in the form of a socket, a plug 33 at theend of the spray nozzle is adapted to be applied. The complete spraynozzle is most clearly illustrated in Fig. IV. It comprises generally aflexible hose 34, a barrel 35,- and a short length pipe 36 at the end ofthe barrel. By means of suitable Wire clamps 37,

the flexible hose is attached at one end to the plug 33 and at the otherend to the barrel 35. Onthe barrel a hand grip 38 is provided, andadjacent to this hand grip there is a globe valve 39. A portion of thebarrel 35 is covered with tubular insulation 40, which affords aconvenient'grip for the operator.

The pipe 36 is preferably inclined at an angle from the barrel 35, andas shown in Fig. VII, the pipe 36 terminates in a cone spray tip 41 heldin place by a cap 42. As shown in Fig. VIII, the cone shaped tip 41 hastherein a series of perforations l3 and is so designed as to causeconcentrated jets to issue therefrom.

The operation of the apparatus herein de scribed will be apparent fromthe description of the constituent elements thereof. As illustrated inFig. V, the spray nozzle is particularly adapted for the washing oflocomotivesandis conveniently handledby a single operator. In washing alocomotive, it is desirable to have one operator working at each sidethereof. It will be especially noted that the spray nozzle is of simpleand light construction, and that it carrieswith it only a short lengthof hose 34. The operator applies this hose to one discharge outlet suchas that represented at D, performs the cleaning operation on one end ofthe locomotive; and when that portion of the locomotive is completed hedetaches the flexible hose 34 from the discharge outlet D, and appliesthe same to the discharge outlet E, and continues the cleaning operationon the central portion of the locomotive. Subsequently the spray nozzleis disconnected from the discharge outlet E and connected to thedischarge outlet F, so that the operator may wash the remaining end ofthe locomotive and thus complete the washing of one side. At theopposite side'of the locomotive a'similar operation is performed,eitherconcurrently or after the washing of the first side has been completed.

It will also be particularly noted that each discharge outlet includestwo valves, one valve 31 controlling the fluid passing through the spraynozzle, and the other valve 25 controlling the compressed air used.These valves 31,25 are within convenient reach of the operator.rangement described makes possible the easy handling of the spray nozzleand'of thehose'cone nected to it, andeliminates the difiioulties experienced with heavy spray nozzles carrying several relatively longhoses.

While we have described one preferred arrangement of the supply linesand discharge outlets found to be convenient for the purpose of wash-Thus the aring locomotives, it will be readily appreciated fined in theannexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. Apparatus for applyinga cleansing medium comprising supply lines, one for carrying a cleansingliquid and another for carrying a pressure medium, said liquid supplyline having a discharge connection therein in the form of a pipe cross,and said pressure line having a discharge connection therein in the formof a pipe T, an extension leading from the side arm of said pipe Tthrough the side arms of said pipe cross, said extension closing thefirst such arm of said pipe cross and passing through the second armwithout closing it, a casing connected to said latter arm and disposedat the end of said extension, said casing forming a mixing chamberwhereat said cleansing liquid and pressure medium are combined, andspray means connected to said casing.

2. Apparatus for applying a cleansing medium comprising supply lines,one for carrying a cleansing liquid and another for carrying a pressuremedium, said liquid supply line having a discharge connection therein inthe form of a pipe cross, and said pressure line having a dischargeconnection therein in the form or" a pipe T, an extension leading fromthe side arm of said pipe T through the side arms of said pipe cross,said extension closing the first such arm of said pipe cross and passingthrough the second arm without closing it, a pipe fitting connected tosaid latter arm and surrounding said extension, said fitting diminishingin cross sectional area toward the end of said extension and terminatingin a casing forming a mixing chamber whereat said cleansing liquid andpressure medium are combined, and spray means connected to said casing.

3. Apparatus for applying a cleansing medium comprising parallel supplylines, one for carrying a cleansing liquid and another for carrying apressure medium, said liquid supply line having discharge connections inthe form of pipe crosses at intervals therealong, and said pressure linehaving discharge connections in the form of pipe Ts at correspondingintervals therealong, an extension leading from each said pipe T throughthe side arms of the adjacent pipe cross of the liquid supply line, saidextension closing the first such arm of said pipe cross and passingthrough the second arm Without closing it, a casing connected to saidlatter arm and disposed at the end of said extension, said casingforming a mixing chamber whereat said cleansing liquid and pressuremedium are combined, and spray means connected to said casing.

CAMILLUS M. ROHYANS. CHARLES G. BROWN.

